Lynners offered election choices

LYNN – Local voters decide who will be Lynn’s next mayor and who will make up the City Council and School Committee Tuesday beginning at 7 a.m. when the polls open.More than 49,000 residents are registered to vote and bilingual ballots will be handed to voters for the first time. Polls close at 8 p.m.The final election pits Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. against City Councilor at Large Judith Flanagan Kennedy in one of the most talked-about mayoral races in 10 years.Kennedy won a sticker campaign in the September preliminary election to beat Clancy. During the final contest, the pair sparred over many issues including residential property tax levels, the city’s live-where-you-work requirement for municipal workers, budget cutting and balancing, as well as public safety.Clancy takes credit for rolling back bar-closing hours, describing the move as a crime-fighting measure. Kennedy contends the Police Department needs more officers to fight crime and thinks the decision to eliminate police bicycle patrols was poor executive decision making.Voters will choose four councilors at large Tuesday with incumbent Timothy Phelan, Paul Crowley and Daniel Cahill seeking re-election and former councilor Stephen Duffy, youth organization director Eugene Schneeberg Sr. and businessman George Meimeteas hoping to fill one of the four spots.Three out of seven ward councilors face challengers with Ward 2 Councilor William Trahant Jr. opposed by talk radio personality William Cooksey; Ward 4 Councilor Richard Colucci faces challenger Gina Grandberry and Ward 5 features political newcomers James Stafford and Brendan Crighton vying for the seat vacated by Paula Mackin.Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi, Ward 3 Councilor Darren Cyr, Ward 6 Councilor Peter Capano and Ward 7 Councilor Rick Ford are running unopposed.The School Committee race features challengers Harrison Harley III, a retired science teacher, Delores DiFillipo, an substance abuse awareness educator and Richard Starbard, a teacher and Rick’s Auto Collision president.All six committee members – John Ford Jr., Donna Coppola, Jeffrey Newhall, Patricia Capano, Vincent Spirito and Maria Carrasco – are seeking re-election.Polling places by ward and precinct:1-1 Shoemaker School – Clearview Avenue1-2 Briarcliff Lodge – 112 Kernwood Drive1-3 Sisson School – 56 Conomo Avenue1-4 Sisson School – 56 Conomo Avenue2-1 St. Pius Lower Church Hall – Maple Street2-2 St. Pius Lower Church Hall – Maple Street2-3 St. Pius Lower Church Hall – Maple Street2-4 St. Pius Lower Church Hall – Maple Street3-1 English High School – Goodridge Street3-2 English High School – Goodridge Street3-3 English High School – Goodridge Street3-4 English High School – Goodridge Street4-1 North Shore Community College – Broad Street4-2 North Shore Community College – Broad Street4-3 North Shore Community College – Broad Street4-4 North Shore Community College – Broad Street5-1 Lynn Vocational Technical Institute Annex – Commercial Street5-2 Lynn Vocational Technical Institute Annex – Commercial Street5-3 Lynn Vocational Technical Institute Annex – Commercial Street5-4 Community Hall – 10 Church Street6-1 Lynn Tech Fieldhouse – Neptune Boulevard6-2 Lynn Tech Fieldhouse – Neptune Boulevard6-3 Lynn Tech Fieldhouse – Neptune Boulevard6-4 Lynn Tech Fieldhouse – Neptune Boulevard7-1 Breed Junior High School, 90 O’Callahan Way7-2 Breed Junior High School, 90 O’Callahan Way7-3 Breed Junior High School, 90 O’Callahan Way7-4 Breed Junior High School, 90 O’Callahan WayThe polls will be open from at 7 a.m.-8 p.m. for registered voters to select for Councilors at Large, Ward Councilors and School Committee.Click here for complete Lynnelection coverage, candidate profiles and more. You may also comment on theelection and read what others have to say.